Will Fortnite on Nintendo Switch Require Online Subscription?

With Nintendo Switch’s Online Service set to release in the second half of September 2018, many gamers are wondering if one will need to pay for a subscription in order to keep experiencing such free-to-play titles as Fortnite Battle Royale upon the service’s launch. Thankfully, that doesn’t appear to be the case, as some of the platform’s free-to-play titles lack a disclaimer stating that they need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to play.

As it so happens, products like Epic Games’ Fortnite, Hi-Rez Studios’ Paladins, and other free-to-play games that require an Internet connection currently lack a warning for customers to tell them that they will lose access when Switch Online launches. Although Nintendo has yet to explicitly state that free-to-play titles don’t require Switch Online, one will also notice that paid games with online modes such as Splatoon 2 show this disclaimer: “Nintendo Account required. Online features will be free until the Nintendo Switch Online Service launches in 2018.”

It’s worth noting that Nintendo has yet to explicitly declare whether or not free-to-play titles such as Fortnite Battle Royale will need the Switch Online Service in order for players to continue accessing it and playing multiplayer matches. However, with products such as Minecraft already containing the fine print that the paid service is required and with games like Fortnite lacking the detail, it’s a good indication that Nintendo will continue allowing Fortnite fans to play it despite not having a subscription to Switch Online.

Taking all of this into consideration, should this be the official route Nintendo is taking, then it would be good news for gamers, as it means that the Big N won’t force players to pay an additional fee to get through a paywall barrier between them and their favorite free-to-play titles. Of course, there’s always a chance that Nintendo goes on to add the Switch Online disclaimer before the service goes live, but that possibility seems relatively low at this point.

Fortnite is available now for iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with an Android launch coming at some point in 2018.